PANGASINAN -- Philippine National Police Chief General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. encouraged the PNP and barangay officials to be always observant, especially of the presence of suspicious foreign nationals in their areas.
If there are any suspicious foreigners, the new PNP Chief said it is good for the barangay folks to report them to the authorities and have them checked or verified.
General Azurin made the statement when asked by media in Baguio City about the discovery of a warehouse in Pozorrubio, Pangasinan where illegal drugs amounting to P 2.5 billion were found on Friday, August 12.
Gen Azurin admitted there are more illegal drugs as there are traders, but he acknowledged at the same time that there are people who are willing to help the police in their campaign against illegal drugs.
The PNP chief also mentioned that there are agencies who are also helping in the campaign on war on drugs.
“Hihilingin na lang natin na maging mapagmatyag ang mga kasama natin sa pagbantay sa presence ng foreigners na kaduda duda, ireport sa authorities so we can check kung ano mga ginagawa nila sa lugar na yan, (We ask our everyone who may be aware of suspicious foreigners to report to us so we can check what they are doing in certain area),” said Azurin.
On Friday afternoon, authorities discovered 360 kilograms of shabu with an estimated value of P2.5 billion during a buy bust that also resulted in the arrest of a Chinese national and three Filipino cohorts in a ‘Blue House’ in Turquoise St., Sunshine Village, Brgy. Banding, Pozorrubio.
The Chinese national was identified as Ke Wujia alias James Dagale Galopo, 49, a resident of San Vicente Sur, Agoo, La Union.
His three Filipino cohorts were Johnbert Yagong, 22, a resident of San Agustin Norte, Agoo, La Union; Jenson Rey Yago, 29, of Napaturan, Brgy. Cod Cod, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental; and Ritchell Repuesto, 28, resident of San Carlos City, Negros Occidental.
Police raiders believe the arrested individuals in Pozorrubio were bigtime suppliers of illegal drugs nationwide.
He said they also invited the owner of that Blue House apartment on Turquoise Street in Sunshine Village, Barangay Banding here, which was used by the suspects as a storage facility for illegal drugs.
Joint personnel of PDEA Intelligence Service (the lead unit), PDEA NCR (National Capital Region), PDEA RO1 (Regional Office 1), PDEA Pangasinan, Team Navy -- backed by Pozorrubio Police, Pangasinan Police Provincial Office, and Regional Intelligence Division -- carried out the buy-bust operation against the suspects after six months of surveillance.